Playmobil Easter eggs review: a great alternative to chocolate

Overall rating: 5/5

Price on writing: From £7 | Buy now from Amazon

What we like

• A great alternative to chocolate Easter eggs

• Variable number of pieces in each set, so suitable for a range of ages

• The plastic egg can be reused as a money box

What we don’t like

• Lots of plastic packaging

• Not always easy for little fingers to undo

Key specs

Age: 3-10 years

What Mumsnet users say

“DS has never liked chocolate, so we've always got him a small gift instead [...] Playmobil do Easter eggs that [...] have a little figure in, last year he got one of those and liked it.” Brand recommended by Mumsnetter Bloatstoat

Our verdict

If you want to get the kids an Easter treat, but don’t want to add to the ten tonnes of chocolate that will inevitably come your way, then these cute little eggs from Playmobil are a great alternative.

Containing mini figures and playsets, from farmers to fairies, there is a Playmobil egg to suit all tastes.

Unlike some toy eggs, there is no ‘blind bag’ element. The cardboard wrapping lets you know exactly what you are getting, which removes the risk of doubling up on sets. Of course if you want to reintroduce the element of surprise, you can always remove the cardboard before giving the egg to your little one.

The three sets we were sent for testing came with nine, 17 and 33 pieces - so make sure you check before buying whether the set is suitable for the child you are buying for.

The eggshell was sturdy and really good quality, and can be reused as a money box or refilled to gift more Easter treats next year.

Read next: Best Easter gifts for kids for 2024

What to expect when opening the Playmobil eggs

The plastic eggs are sealed with two round plastic stickers, which the kids found slightly tricky to peel off. However once these were removed, it was easy to crack open the eggs and discover the hidden treasures within. Unfortunately, the hidden treasures come wrapped in several plastic bags, which were not only fiddly to get into, but also didn’t feel particularly environmentally-friendly.

Once the wrapping was removed, the kids were able to build their playsets - a farmer and trailer (33 pieces), a charming family beach scene (17 pieces) and a zookeeper with a friendly llama (nine pieces). The kids happily played with the individual sets before introducing the new characters to the four-year-old’s wider Playmobil collection, a wonderful land full of princesses, vets and schoolteachers. The new additions went down well with both children, who also loved the novelty value of a non-chocolate egg.

Read next: The best dolls for toddlers and children, as recommended by Mumsnetters

Are the Playmobil eggs good value for money?

If you have a young child who is a Playmobil fan, then these gift eggs are a great way of keeping the chocolate pile down this Easter. But don’t worry if you missed the boat this Easter, as the eggs are available all year round, so they are perfect for birthdays too. 

If you are looking to save a few pounds, some of the the smaller Playmobil Special Plus sets retail from £4 on Amazon, but of course don’t come with the same novelty value, or the ‘mystery gift’ element. However if you do choose to buy a Playmobil egg with a view to regifting it next year, this means you can pop a fresh playset in for around half the price.

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About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.